Dictation transcribing machine



Nov. 22, 1960 F. w. SCHUELER DICTATION TRANSCRIBING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1958 INVENTOR EYS l' rea/erzlck WSchue (er Nov. 22, 1960 w, SCH ELER 2,961,243

DICTATION TRANSCRIBING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 "b I) a Q BY m T OM14, a

w- EYS Nov. 22, 1960 F. w. SCHUELER DICTATION TRANSCRIBING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 15. 1958 INV NTOR W5 E Frederick MW Q Nov. 22, 1960 F. w. SCHUELER DICTATION TRANSCRIBING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 15. 1958 INVENTOR fi' 3 NEYS &

f'redgIjc/c W'SchueZer fiaw lined machine. and advantageous solution to this problem.

i carriage upon whici, -scribed herein, is mounted a single transducer head for playing back a record. This carriage is ada ted to be.

United States Ptent Claims. (Cl. 274-21) This invention relates to an improved dri e and backspacing mechanism for a dictation transcribing mach ne. An object of this invention is to provide a fast-acting and reliable backspacing mechanism for a transcribing machine.

Another object is to provide such a mechanism which is very compact in size.

Still another object is to provide a mechanism of this kind which is nonetheless relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

A more particular object is to provide a very eflicient and fast backspacing and drive mechanism for a transcribing machine using a short wide belt record.

These and other objects will in part be pointed out in and in part understood from the description given hereinafter.

When a secretary is transcribing dictati n fr m re:- ord, she frequently needs to stop and repla" a portion of the record (i.e. backspace it) to be sure what was said. To make the secretarys task as easy as possible it is essential that the transcribing machine being u ed.

\ to play the record be easily operable and respond quickly to its controls.- Included in this requirement is the need for automatic, pushbutton control of the machine so that even a momentary actuation of the backspre switch, for example, will result in positive and quick response by the machine.

Complicating the problem of providing a fast and efficient backspacing mechanism is the trend toward smaller ..and more compact machines.

Certain backs acing arrangements previously developed and which might otherwise be satisfactory from the standpoint of speed and efiiciency, simply will not fit within a present day, stream The present in ention provides .a unique In accordance with the present invention. in one snecific embodiment thereof, there is provided in a dual mandrel type of transcribing machine using a short wide belt record an electrically controlled backspacing mechanism which can be actuated by the m mentary closing of a push-button switch. The record-handling mechanism of this machine can be identical to that of t, e dictating machine described and claimed in c-o-pending application US. Serial No. 728.646, filed Apr l 15, 1958.

This mechanismv briefly, includes two small diameter mandrels around which can be stretched a short wide belt record, one of the mandrels being driven through an, electrically operated start-stop clutch from a small motor. Positioned closely beneath the mandrels is a in the transcribing machine dedriven slowly parallel to the mandrels by a feedscrew so that as the record is rotated the playback or reprodu ing provided according to the invention interconnects the ,feedscrew and the drive mandrel so that there are two conditions of operation. In one condition, when the drive mandrel rotates the feedscrew is rotated in the forward direction at slow speed to permit the record to be played normally. In the other condition, while the drive mandrel continues to rotate as usual the feedscrew is driven at high speed in reverse direction thereby backspacing the playback head relative to the record. Simultaneously, while the head is moving backward it is lifted out of engagement with the record, and when normal drive resumes the head is released again into contact with the record.

This backspacing arrangement is controlled by an electric solenoid which when energized, even though momentarily, shifts the drive mechanism into reverse. Thereafter, the mechanism completes a predetermined amount of rotation (sufficient, for example, to backspace the head from one turn of the sound track on the record to the preceding one) and then, if the solenoid is no longer energized, automatically shifts itself into forward drive. If the solenoid is still energized, the mechanism repeats another reverse cycle, and so on.

This backspacing arrangement is very compact and operates in conjunction with other elements. eg. the feedscrew, already present in a transcribing machine of the general type described. Accordingly, the overall machine can be of the same small size as the companion dictating machine.

A better understanding of the invention together with a fuller appreciation of its many advantages will best be gained from a study of the following description given in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a transcribing machine embodying features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a slightly enlarged cross-section view taken as indicated by lines 2-2 in Figure l (and with the housing of the machine omitted) showing the drive and backspacing mechanism substantially to scale;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the mechanism, partly broken away and taken as indicated by lines 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3 but for the sake of clarity shows the mechanism greatly enlarged and partly in schematic form;

Figure 5 is a section view taken as indicated by lines 55 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the backspace mechanism seen in Figures 4 and 5;

Figure 7 is a greatly enlarged cross-section view, taken as indicated by lines 7-7 in Figure 1, showing the relative positions of certain parts to scale, but omitting other parts such as the housing and the base of the machine; and

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view corresponding to Figure 7.

The transcribing machine 10 seen in Figure l and which embodies the features of the invention includes a thin, flat rectangular housing 12 which is mounted upon machine may be of conventional construction and hence will not be described herein. They are located within housing12 behind knobs 16, 17 and 18.

Projecting forward beyond the front panel of housing 12 is a control arm 20 which, as seen at the left in Figure 7, is a cantilever extension of a carriage, generally indicated at 19, on which is mounted near arm 20 a transducer head 21 for playing back a record: The

' support for arm 29, as seen in Figure 1, projects through a slot 22 in the base of the machine, and carriage 19 is slidable back and forth along, this slot. On the top right of arm 20 is mounted a button or tab 24 which can be depressed to shift the carriage from neutral to playback condition wherein the carriage is engaged with a feedscrew and the playback head is in contact with the record. On the top left of arm 20 is a similar tab 26 which is raised up when the other tab is depressed but which can be leveled with it and the top of arm 20, as shown, to place the carriage in neutral wherein the playback head is raised from the record and the carriage is operatively disengaged from the feedscrew.

Projecting upward from the top of arm 20 is a pointer 28which travels with the arm in front of an indicator Y stip 30 mounted on the front panel of housing 12. Marks such as correction and end-of-letter placed on the slip when a record was originally recorded, now indicate to the secretary where such places occur in the dictation 7 on the record.

I Positioned within housing .12 near its top right front corner is a drive mandrel 32, a portion of which, when I vItlicre is no record on the machine, can be seen through an opening 34 in the front offthe housing. Extending upward across this opening near its left end is an index co-pending application.

record are described in complete detail in the aforesaid As indicated in Figure 1, there is mounted somewhat I below and parallel to the mandrels a feedscrew 40 which isadapted, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, to drive carriage 19 laterally beneath the bottom run of a record stretched on the mandrels. This feedscrew and drive mandrel 32 are driven from their left ends, the mandrel being driven (see also Figures 2 and 3) by an endless belt 42 engaging a pulley 44 on a shaft extension 45 of the mandrel, the belt extending to the rear around a drive hub 46. As seen in Figure 3, shaft 45 is journalled at 47 in a frame 48 fixed to the base of the machine. Hub 46 as seen in Figures 2 and 3 is a coaxial extension of a larger wheel 50 rotatably mounted on a pin 52 in frame 48. Holding belt 42 tightly engaged around hub 46 is an upwardly adjustable idler roller 54. Positioned behind wheel 50 is a small electric motor 56 having a shaft 58 extending adjacent the rim of wheel 50. To transmit the rotation of the motor shaft to wheel 50 there is movably positioned beneath and between them a small rubber roller 60 which is rotatably mounted on a bracket 62 whose forward end is hinged to the frame at 64. The rear end of the bracket carries a plunger 66 which extends upward into a solenoid 68. When the solenoid is energized, rubber roller 60 is drawn tightly against the motor shaft and the rim of wheel 50, as indicated in Figure 2.

' A short compression spring 70 between bracket 62 and the solenoid normally urges the bracket downward. This solenoid clutch arrangement is remotely controlled by a switch (not shown) and is very quick and precise in stopping and starting the machine.

Interconnecting the driven or outer end of drive mandrel 32 and the corresponding end of feedscrew 40 is a backspacing mechanism, generally indicated at 74. The structure of this mechanism is shown in greatly expanded form in Figures 4 and 5 and is more easily understood by reference to these figures. Mounted on the outer end of shaft extension 45 of drive mandrel 32 is a small gear 76 which meshes with a larger transfer gear 78 journalled at 80 on the frame and having a hub gear 82. The latter in turn drives another transfer gear 84 journalled at 86 on the frame and meshing with a large gear 88 mounted for free rotation on the outer end of feedscrew 40, this feedscrew being journalled through the frame at 90. Large gear 88 drives a transfer gear 92 journalled at 94 on the frame and which meshes with a sleeve gear 96 mounted for free rotation on the outer end of a rod 98 journalled through'the frame at 100. This rod, as seen also in Figures 7 and 8, constitutes the rear guide upon which carriage 19 slides. As will appear-hereinafter, by rotating this rod 98 playback head 21 can be retracted from the record. The gears so far described and as seen in Figure 4 always rotate in unison with the drive mandrel in the relative directions indicated by the arrows.

Fixed to and extending outward from large gear 88 is a small, coaxial coil clutch spring 102 whose other end extends over and closely surrounds a short cylindrical sleeve 104 fixed to feedscrew 40. By externally camming the side of spring 102 against sleeve 104, the spring will grab or clutch the sleeve thereby immediately establishing a driving connection between feedscrew 40. and gear 88. This is the normal, forward drive connection between the drive mandrel and the feedscrew.

External camming of clutch spring 102 against sleeve 104 is accomplished, as seen best in Figures 4 and 5, by a small idler roller 106 rotatably mounted on the lower arm of a yoke bracket 108. The end of bracket 108 is pivoted to the frame at 110 and its upper arm carries a similar. idler roller 112. Mounted on pivot 110 just behind bracket 108 is a curved arm 114 which in the position indicated in Figure 5 bears against a pin 116 carried on bracket 108 and urges it counterclockwise about pivot 110, the upper end of arm 114 being pulled by a tension spring 118 hooked between the arm and the frame. Hooked to the lower end of arm 114 is a short tension spring 119 whose upper end is fastened to bracket 108.

As will appear, arm 114 can be cammed clockwise as indicated in Figure 5 so that roller 106 will be moved out of contact with clutch spring 102 and roller 112 moved into contact with a similar clutch spring 120 (see Figure 4). This shifts the drive of feedscrew 40 from forward to reverse. The outer end of clutch spring 120 is fixed to a gear ,122 rotatably mounted on feedscrew 40 and adapted to be driven in reverse direction relative to large gear 88 and at a much higher speed.

Sleeve gear 96 surrounding rear guide rod 98 has an enlarged hub 124 (see also Figure 6) on which is rotatably mounted upon a nylon bearing 126, an outer grooved sleeve 128. The latter has two opposite lengthwise grooves machined in it, each of which is engageable in turn with a pin 132 of a solenoid 134. Normally, this pin is in engagement with one of the grooves 130 and prevents sleeve 128 from rotating, though it would otherwise rotate along with hub 124 (which always rotates when the drive mandrel is rotating) because of the light friction between them. However, when solenoid 134 is energized, even momentarily, pin 132 is retracted against the action of a spring (not shown) urging it to the position in Figures 4 and 5, and sleeve 128 permitted to rotate. This, as will appear, causes the mechanism to shift into reverse drive, and to continue in this condition until pin 132 again engages a groove 130 and arrests sleeve 1 28. 7

As seen in Figure 4 surrounding the outer end of hub 124 but not fixed to it, is a clutch spring 136 whose other end is fastened to a gear 138 fast on guide rod 98 and meshed with gear 122. Coaxially mounted on gear 138 is a cam sleeve140 fastened to the gear by a'pair of screws 142 (see also Figure 2) which permit angular adjustment of the sleeve relative to the gear. Sleeve 140, as seen best in Figures 5 and 6, has two equal and opposite cam shoulders 144 which are engaged by an adjustable pin or cam follower 146 mounted on the upper end of curved arm 114. When solenoid pin 132 releases grooved sleeve .128, this allows clutch spring 136 to tighten by itself upon hub 124 and to immediately establish a driving connection to gear 138. Spring 136 is wound such that when sleeve 128 is freed to rotate, the spring tends to rotate it in the same direction that hub 124 is rotating. This gives a doubly positive, fast-acting clutch action.

As soon as gear 138 is clutched to hub 124, cam sleeve 140 as seen in Figures 5 and 6 rotates clockwise and cams pin 146 outward to rotate curved arm 114 clockwise. This as seen in Figure 5 causes bracket 108 to move clockwise and to lift roller 106 out of engagement with clutch spring 102 and simultaneously to press roller 112 into engagement with clutch spring 12%. Since gear 122 is now being rotated from gear 133, the feedscrew is immediately shifted into and driven in reverse. It will be so driven for as long as solenoid pin 132 allows grooved sleeve 128 to rotate. As soon as this grooved sleeve is again arrested, clutch spring 136 will release hub 124 and break or open the drive to gear 138. By setting the angular adjustment of cam sleeve 140 relative to gear 138, the angular positions of shoulders 144 can be set so that pin 146 has just dropped down off a shoulder (see Figure 6) when solenoid pin 132 drops into a groove 130 in sleeve 128 and arrests it. Thus at the same instant that the drive to gear 138 is released, the drive of the feedscrew via sleeve 104 will be shifted from reverse to forward.

While the carriage is being driven backward, it is desirable that the playback head be lifted out of contact with the record. This is accomplished as follows. As mentioned previously, rear guide rod 98 is rotatable along with gear 138. Now, this guide rod (see also Figures 6, 7 and 8) is splined along its length at 143 and is engaged at the carrier by a cylindrical cam 150 slidably keyed to the rod and movable with the carriage. This cam has two opposite cam grooves 152 along its length which are engaged by a pin 154 carried on the rear end of an arm 156 pivoted to the carriage at 158. When pin 154 is engaged with a. groove 152 in cam 150. playback head 21 is permitted to move into contact with the record as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 7. When cam 150 is rotated so that pin 154 is not in a groove 152, then the head is retracted to the solid line position shown. This is accomplished as follows.

Playback head 21 is mounted in a U shaped bracket 159 which is pivoted to carriage 19 on an axis 160. Positioned along one side of bracket 159 is a curved lever arm 162 which is pivoted to the carriage at 164 and wh ch when rotated counter-clockwise as seen in Figure 7 lifts head 21 out of contact with the record. The rear end of lever arm 162 carries a transverse min 166 which extends beneath the front end of arm 156. When this arm is rotated clockwise as seen in Figure 7 by the rotation of cylindrical cam 150 at its rear end, the head is lifted from the record.

To prov de for the manual retraction of he d 21 when a record is being nserted into the machine. for exam le, carriage 19 is fitted with a rotatable shaft 168 extending from control arm 20 along the bottom of the carriage to its rear. This shaft, as described in more detail in the aforesaid co-pending application is angularly oriented in one direction or the other in accordance with the position of control tab 24. Shaft 168 beneath pin 166 carries a cam 170 which engages the pin to retract head 21 when the carriage is in neutral and releases the pin when the carriage is conditioned for playback. The shaft also carries a cam 172 which controls the clutching and unclutching of a feednut arrangement generally indicated at 174. Carriage 19 is slidably mounted upon a front guide rod 176 whose angular position controls the loading and unloading of a record and provides an interlock arrangement, as described in said co-pending application.

It will now be appreciated that the invention provides a very fast acting and reliable backspacing arrangement. The backspacing mechanism includes or makes use of elements already present in a machine of the general type described and hence is simplified by having these elements perform double functions. This backspacing mechanism is ideally suited for control by a remote pushbutton switch and its operation once initiated is positive and completely automatic.

The above description of the invention is intended in illustration and not in limitation thereof. Various changes may occur to those skilled in the art and these may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth.

I claim:

1. A compact, efiicient and fast acting backspacing mechanism comprising a shaft to be driven in either forward or reverse direction, a first gear and a second gear both rotatably mounted on said shaft, a clutch on said shaft for drivingly connecting either one of said gears to said shaft, lever means for shifting said clutch to connect either of said gears to said shaft, a drive gear for rotating said first gear from a motor, a second shaft, a sleeve gear rotatably mounted on said second shaft, a. transfer gear connecting said first gear with said sleeve gear, a cam gear fast on said second shaft, said cam gear being meshed with said second gear, a second clutch for connecting said sleeve gear with said cam gear, solenoid controlled means for actuating said second clutch, and means controlled by rotation of said cam gear for actuating said lever means to shift said first clutch automaticaily.

2. The mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said second clutch comprises an outer cam sleeve rotatable with iight friction on said sleeve gear, a wire spring coil ccaxiai with said second shaft and having one end fixed to said cam gear and its other end attached to said cam sleeve and surrounding a portion of said sleeve gear, said coil being wound so that when said cam sleeve is freed to rotate with said sleeve gear there will be a driving connection between said sleeve gear and said cam gear, and a solenoid actuated detent for holding or releasing said cam sleeve.

3. The mechanism as in claim 2 wherein said means controlled by rotation of said cam gear includes a cam follower and a spring normally holding said lever means to shift said first clutch so that said first gear is connected to said first shaft, but when said cam gear is rotated said cam follower moves said lever means to connect said second gear to said first shaft.

4. Backspacing mechanism for a sound transcribing machine and the like, said mechanism comprising a first shaft which is to be driven in either direction, a first gear rotatable with respect to the first shaft, a sleeve gear mounted on a support shaft and coupled to said first gear. a cam gear on the support shaft, said sleeve and cam gears being disengaged from each other when said first shaft is being driven in one direction, a reverse second gear rotatable with respect to the first shaft and coupled with the cam gear, clutch means comprising a forward clutch for engaging the first gear with the first shaft and a reverse clutch for engaging the reverse second gear with the first shaft, 2. shift lever for engaging either one of the clutches but not both at once, the forward clutch being engaged when said first shaft is being driven in said one direction, remotely actuated clutch means for engaging the sleeve gear with the cam gear, and means cooperating with the cam gear for moving the lever upon rotation of the cam gear to disengage the forward clutch and to engage the reverse clutch, and for thereafter moving the lever to engage the forward clutch and disengage the reverse clutch after each unit amount of rotation of the cam gear and upon disengagement of the remotely actuated clutch means.

5. Backspacing mechanism for a sound transcribing machine and the like, said mechanism comprising a first shaft which is to be driven in either direction, a first gear rotatably mounted on the first shaft for driving it at normal forward speed, a sleeve gear mounted on a sup-- '7 port shaft and coupled to said first gear, a cam gear on the support shaft, said sleeve and cam gears being normally disengaged from each other, a reverse second gear rotatably mounted on the first shaft and coupled with the cam gear for driving said first shaft in high-speed reverse, clutch means comprising a forward coil spring clutch for engaging the first gear with the first shaft and a reverse coil spring clutch for engaging the reverse second gear with the first shaft, a shift lever for actuating either one of the coil spring clutches but not both at once, the forward clutch being normally engaged, a remotely actuated clutch comprising a third coil spring actuated by a sole noid for engaging the sleeve gear with the cam gear, and camtollower means cooperating with the cam gear for moving the lever upon rotation of the cam gear to disengage the forward clutch and to engage the reverse clutch, and for thereafter moving the lever to engage the forward clutch and disengage the reverse clutch after each unit amount of rotation of the cam gear and upon disengagement of the remotely actuated clutch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,300,093 Bayer Oct. 27, 1942 

